The ticket office at Newtown railway station is to permanently close.

It was the only manned ticket office along the Cambrian Line between Machynlleth and Shrewsbury.

Newtown Station Travel said it will not be reopening due to the "financial effects of the coronavirus crisis and its handling have had on the business' viability".

In a statement on Facebook, they said: "Its with regret that we leave the the town and surrounding area without a manned presence at its railway station however we do have our own and our families finances to consider and can't run the business at a loss with no income coming in indefinitely.

"If we organised transport properly in this country Newtown station would be a manned transport/parcels interchange from very early to very late seven days a week staffed by the transport operator".

They added: "Lets hope more enlightened times are around the corner".

Transport for Wales has applied for planning permission to install ticket machines on each of the two platforms.

A Transport for Wales spokesperson said: "We were sorry to learn of Newtown Station Travel’s decision to close due to the impact of Covid-19.

"They have been a valued independent retailer at the station for many years.  We will install ticket vending machines at the station in the next 12 months".